Would you lose your dx under DSM V?

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AMEN!

I think the diagnosis/label would still apply to me.

It's easy to scare me, easy to mess with my head. People really throw me for a loop. Not that I can't deal with most of them, but that I have a very hard time not being timid and bullies and any attempt at manipulation just kill me.

Sensory issues I have learned to deal with (or ignore-- thankfully mine are mild).

Memory I have learned to cope with-- I write things down and double-check and try to avoid medications that can make me loopy because I know that's going to f**k my working memory to the stratosphere, and I have a good enough rote memory that it can partially compensate (things like finding my way around my own town).

Being somewhat abrasive I have learned to deal with/accept. The people who love me accept me in view of this fact. With the rest of the human race, I keep kind of quiet (at least, whenever being nice is more important than whatever I might have to say-- which it is about 80% of the time).

I still have trouble with executive functioning, especially organization and time management. I ask for help with these things and get told, "What do you mean?? You are functioning well for someone on the spectrum." Yeah?? Really?? Well, that's really nice of you to say, but I want to function well, period. And I think I could. I know I could function better-- if someone would just teach me.

I still have trouble with anxiety, and with very low self-esteem. I asked for help with that. Instead, I got-- well, you've heard my horror story. If you haven't, it's all over this board.

Now I'm cleaning up the mess that got made when I made the mistake of asking for help from idiots.

It's because of the idiocy that I'd like to lose the diagnosis. What it costs me isn't worth any help it garners. It's not even worth the knowledge and understanding-- because, in fact, what I have found is that, for me, there really isn't any more.

That's cold and selfish. It serves my own very-high-functioning agenda at the expense of people with greater struggles. I feel really bad about that, too-- but it is also human nature to put your own survival and well-being first. And I'm not going to condition that out of myself again, because it's proadaptive. If I don't look out for me, no one else will.

Last edited by BuyerBeware on 15 May 2012, 12:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

yes, i will still be autistic.

It's funny I was listening to an American psychiatrist on radio this morning who has written a paper on how the development of the DSM categorization of diagnosis was intended to facilitate the criminal justice system to;
a) identify socially abnormal behavior and;
b) identify which behavior will lead to criminal acts

If this is correct then the process of streamlining categories into "spectrums" and makes it easier to classify levels of danger in criminals. Hence people who are mildly intellectually or neurologically disabled are being taken off the radar.

Of course we know that if functionality in society was predictor of neurotically normal individuals then everybody in prison has impaired functioning and could be argued to have a mental disorder. On the flipside not everyone with ASD is going to be a criminal, if anything many will end up as victims.

So before I get side-tracked, it might be that milder forms of problems with daily functioning that are not going to lead to social problems (i.e. having a meltdown in public causing a public disturbance) then maybe DSM wants to filter you out?

Not me. I was diagnosed most likely with high functioning classic autism. So I would fit the classic autism spectrum of autism. I have a feeling what they are doing is going to backfire because a lot of angry parents are already protesting about the changes and I can't really blame them either. They should just leave it be and change the things for those with autism... it is pretty outdated. I think pulling out AS and PDD-NOS is really going to screw up those that have those diagnoses.

Yes I meet all of the criteria for this one as well as the one which is presently in place.

You know, looking at this I do say that i would still be under it. I have huge trouble with expressing myself. I have strict interests and without medication, my emotions and sensory issues are so bad that I would be considered severly autistic if it hadn't been for my ability to speech. I also being fixtated on certain things that I can't seem to pull my mind away from and there are times even with meds that my outbursts are usually so bad that I'm throwing things down the hall and breaking them or screaming because some strange person yelled at me.

Ok...I have checked myself against the new DSM-V proposed changes, and I still meet them---so I will fall under the autism spectrum by its definition. But...I would like to ask what you think about my son.

He was diagnosed when he was 8 (I think that was when he was . He was diagnosed by a child psychiatrist. He then got an IEP from school which he still has. Now...under the new criteria proposed, I do not feel he will necessarily meet the criteria---mainly because of his social outwardness. He loves being around the kids in his class (although he often gets upset about remarks made which he takes too seriously). He has friends and loves to share things with them. He is very social and loving. He shows his emotions well. Upon looking at the old criteria---yes, he meets it. But under the new criteria proposed, I don't think he does meet it. Now what? If he is re-evaluated by a child psychiatrist later on, can his diagnosis of Asperger's (autism) be removed because of the new DSM-V? If so...so be it...I am just wondering. Thank you.

Now I'm cleaning up the mess that got made when I made the mistake of asking for help from idiots.
It's because of the idiocy that I'd like to lose the diagnosis. What it costs me isn't worth any help it garners. It's not even worth the knowledge and understanding-- because, in fact, what I have found is that, for me, there really isn't any more.
That's cold and selfish. It serves my own very-high-functioning agenda at the expense of people with greater struggles. I feel really bad about that, too-- but it is also human nature to put your own survival and well-being first. And I'm not going to condition that out of myself again, because it's proadaptive. If I don't look out for me, no one else will.[/quote]

You are very right. Part of survival skills is to have some anxiety. It is a good thing because it protects one from potential dangers. As a female who goes out alone, especially on public transportation, one has to be very aware of their surroundings and if that means being quiet and shy and not talking to any old stranger who could harm you that is a good thing.
Also, how I "cleaned up" the mess from those idiots who serviced me inappropriate was to figure out my strengths, weakness, interests, talents, and other traits that would allow me to choose a career. Even if you have not figured a career, starting out at a Community College taking a couple of course that interest you is a great start. They may end up taking you to a great career. Also, they provide the correct accommodations that will allow you to succeed. I only had separate location during exams because of sensory issues. But I met tons of people who had asperger's and even regular autism who attended and they loved it. Plus it is great for social, as you can join many clubs and meet so many great friends who share similar interests.
I want to wish you the best of luck. I think you are doing amazing. Don't let anyone else tell you different.

i meet some of every part of the DSM-V but i dont know if thats enough to get a diagnosis...

Also when im in a doctors office i seem "normal" hmmm

This seems to be a rather random comment to make, but I have to agree about those stairs. Each time I had to walk down those I had to pause and compose myself before walking down them.

OP said he/she was going to said place with the godawful stairs (the ones outside and inside; it's like they want you to die), not to mention that it's in the most terrible location if you have sensory problems too.

It's kinda easy to see why heaps of the kids have meltdowns in the waiting room.

Yes, I believe I will.
 

I never initiate social interaction and have difficulty maintaining "normal back and forth conversation".


I almost never make eye contact with anyone, and my facial expression almost always looks like .


I have no friends at the moment (questionable if I ever did), I don't have interest in socialization with people, and I didn't do "imaginative play" when I was a child.


I do stim, but I'm not sure if my doctors are aware of it. I usually stiffen up around people, so they probably haven't seen it.


I have this somewhat. My doctors think it's worse than it is.


Yes.


I'm hypo-sensitive to cold and hyper-sensitive heat. I have sensory problems with clothing, food, and touch. I sometimes like looking at spinning things or lights, more so when I was a child.


Yes.


I guess...

No, I'm not worried about losing my diagnosis under DSM-5. I fit the criteria absolutely.

I honestly don't know. I do fit most or all of the DSM V criteria in some way but am not certain that all of the ways I meet them cause me a significant impairment. I am socially impaired, but would my need for loose fitting cotton clothes and dislike of theme park rides qualify as a sensory impairment when it doesn't really impact my life? I mean, there are work arounds for many of these things that may mean you are not impaired by them because you just choose to avoid certain things.